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Seven sign new deals at Wasps

Wasps have announced that Elliot Daly, Ashley Johnson, Matt Mullan and Joe Simpson have all put pen to paper on new contracts with the club.

Talented up-and-coming players, Sam Jones, Thomas Young and Will Rowlands have also earned new contracts, having impressed both in training and in appearances for Wasps this season.

They join a long list of players who have already extended their stay with Wasps this season: Josh Bassett, James Cannon, Carlo Festuccia, James Haskell, Nathan Hughes, Ruaridh Jackson, Ben Jacobs, Joe Launchbury, Simon McIntyre and Phil Swainston.

26-year-old scrum-half Joe Simpson, who has amassed over 150 appearances for the club since graduating from the Wasps Academy, has been in outstanding form this season and has played his way into contention for England’s World Cup squad.

Simpson, who was named Aviva Premiership Player of the month for April, said: "I'm delighted to have committed my long-term future and the prime of my career to Wasps, the club I supported as a youngster growing up. It's been my second home really for the last 10 years.

"It's an exciting time for me personally. I feel I am playing the best rugby of my life and I feel Wasps are playing the most exciting rugby I can remember since I've been a member of the first team. We made some great signings last season and have some more coming for next season. We've also kept the majority of our young squad together, who are pushing forward. While we achieved our target of top six, in some ways we feel we had the potential to achieve more, and that's what we will focus on next season, as we keep growing as a team.

Daly has also been a stand-out player for Wasps, culminating in his nomination for the Land Rover Discovery of the Season and Aviva Premiership Player of the season at this year’s Premiership Rugby Awards.

"I'm really pleased to have signed a new contract with an awesome club," said the outside centre.

"I didn't look anywhere else; when I got the contract offer I wanted to sign it straight away. I have loved being a part of this team and I'm looking forward to continuing to strive for success with this group. Dai has shown a lot of faith in me this year, giving me the license to play at 13, and I'm really pleased to be able to repay that by signing a new deal."

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young added: "We are over the moon that each of these players has re-committed to the club. Ashley, Elliot, Joe and Matt have been absolutely outstanding for Wasps all season, as is reflected in numerous award nominations and they have played a huge part in helping to drive this club up the table to a top six finish for European qualification.

"I wouldn't swap these guys for any other player in their position in the Aviva Premiership and I really hope they get the call-ups to their international squads that their performances this season deserve.

"We now have a really strong core to the squad, which we can continue to build on, and I'm excited to see how much further these players will develop, having already taken huge strides forwards this season."